Reports

The premise of this report is to connect the dots between contemporary timber architecture, current
high-tech timber engineering and how traditional Japanese craftsmanship could be relevant to the
development either.

Engineered wood products (EWPs) are rapidly growing global market share in both structural and appearance end-uses. These products are formed by combining wood components such as flakes, fibres, particles, veneers, strands, rounds or sawntimber into composite products. Often these composite products can also feature non-wood components such as glues, metals and plastics. Examples of EWPs include cross laminated timber (CLT), glulam, plywood, laminated veneer lumber (LVL), oriented strandboard (OSB), particleboard and I beams. These products are used in diverse applications, including construction, flooring, walls, roofs, linings, decorative architectural features, furniture, packaging, utility poles, cross-arms and bridges. The reasons for their growing popularity are multi-faceted and include numerous performance, resource conversion and sustainability advantages.
However, as the use of EWPs expands, so too do concerns about their long-term durability performance. This report describes the outcomes of a study of EWP production, use and R&D in Europe and North America with a special focus on wood protection measures adopted to maximise EWP durability performance. The current status quo and implications for the Australian industry are also described.

The research focuses on a particular approach to architecture, in which structural timber is deliberately designed as an integral exposed element, and the exposure of timber structure is a fundamental and defining element. A rich tradition of using structural timber as an expressed and integral architectural element can be identified in the architecture of the three countries of study:
Austria, Switzerland and Japan.

This report describes the research undertaken in a Gottstein Fellowship study of forest restoration projects in Tasmania. The aim of the study was to review and document the various Tasmanian projects and to gain an understanding of what motivated people to undertake them, and the scale and methods used, with the intent that this may lead to improved co-operation, knowledge and field outcomes.

This report aims to study the suitability of wood species for high quality musical instruments for soloists and other professional musicians. In the Western cultural tradition the musical instruments of the classical symphony orchestra made in wood are: the string instruments, namely the violin family instruments, guitar, harp, and piano, the woodwind instruments – clarinet, oboe and bassoon and the percussion instruments – xylophone and marimba.

This report describes research undertaken as part of a Gottstein fellowship study concerning the advancement of prefabricated timber construction with a view to improving its presence in the multi-unit residential and commercial building markets. The study aimed to learn lessons from the application of advanced prefabricated timber construction settings in Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Germany and Canada.

The main objective of the study was to provide information and examples of wood fibre technologies that can support decisions within the Australian forest industry to consider a diversification of the manufacturing sector. This transfer of knowledge will help to enable strong growth through innovation, collaboration and industry sector interlinkages.

The Gottstein project involved visits to Australian companies and organisations and those based in Canana, Sweden and Finland.

Pesticide use is an efficient and cost-effective forest management tool in Australian Forestry. Competition for light, space, water and soil nutrients from vegetation can have detrimental effects on tree survival and productivity of plantation tree species.

The demand for timber is increasing resulting in plantation management in Australia becoming more intensive, as managers try to extract greater volume and value out of each hectare.

The aim of this study tour was to review pesticide use and culture in north-eastern Australia, New Zealand, and south-eastern America by talking to key forestry representatives directly involved in pesticide use, managing and monitoring compliance, and to see the impacts reduced pesticide use or reduced availability of chemicals has on plantation forest management.

A report on a Gottstein fellowship mission to the US with the objective of ‘Improving the scope and quality of forestry forecasting work in Australia’. Mihir Gupta worked with colleagues from Forest Economic Advisors (FEA) in Boston and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Olympia, Washington State.)

This study was driven by the recent nanotechnology movement within the forest industries globally and considerations from leaders of the Australian forestry and wood manufacturing industry, reinforcing the need for a closer knowledge on this subject.
Insights obtained directly from the key developers of nanocellulose (NCC) products could maximise decision-making opportunities for innovation, diversification and development.